ROCK ISLAND, Ill.-- Augustana scored the final three goals of the contest to earn a 6-5 victory over Trine in the season-opener for the Thunder Saturday afternoon at Thorson-Lucken Field.
Three unanswered goals over the final 10:46 brought the Vikings back from a two-goal deficit to earn the victory. Kevin Gleason scored three goals to pace the Augustana attack. Chris Ward (Oak Lawn, Ill./St. Rita) and G.T. Youpel (Chicago Ridge, Ill./St. Rita) each scored two goals to lead the Thunder offensively. Youpel added an assist. Augustana held narrow edges over Trine in shots (31-30) and ground balls (30-29). Trine opens the season 0-1. The Vikings improved to 2-1.
Paul Carlquist (Downers Grove, Ill/Downers Grove South) dished out three assists for the Thunder, while Nick Maher (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt) scored his first goal in a college uniform. Ryan Nelson (Stillwater, Minn./Mahtomedi Senior) and Travis Lores (Kildeer, Ill./Lake Zurich) combined for seven saves in their first action in net.
Colin Haley added a goal and an assist for Augustana. Jack Peters was credited with the victory in net, making four saves in the second half.
With the temperature hovering at the 20 degree mark, Ward struck at the 13:09 mark of the first period off an assist by Carlquist. Augustana evened things up as Gleason notched the first of his three goals on the afternoon.
The Thunder dominated the second quarter as Youpel scorched the twine twice, assisted both times by Carlquist. Lores was sharp in the first half as he held the Vikings to a lone goal while making 4 saves, the best an acrobatic foot save late in the half.
The second half started the way the first did, with Ward tallying his second goal on a low blast form 12 yards out. Brandon Walters (Bloomfield Hills, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) picked up the assist. Gleason and John Danko scored for the Vikings to cut the score to 4-3.
Maher took a nifty pass from Youpel and battled two defenders on the crease to get his hands free to put the Thunder back up by two with 12 minutes to go. The goal was the freshman's first as a member of the Thunder. Trine had some excellent opportunities to extend their lead including two shots that rang iron but couldn't find the net.
Goals by Jonathan Byrk and Gleason tied the score at five-apiece, before Haley provided the game-winner with 2:36 to play.
Despite the loss, the Thunder defense played tough all day holding the Vikings scoreless on seven extra-man situations. The starting defense was led by junior close defenseman Colin O'Keefe (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) and freshman long stick middie Collin Lelito (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago) who paced the Thunder with five groundballs each.
O'Keefe also led the way with four caused turnovers. Lelito had two, while Jordan Backer (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) picked up three ground balls and caused a turnover. Fellow defenseman Brian Orr (Lombard, Ill./Montini Catholic) was credited with three caused turnovers.
Freshman middie Jordan Lelito (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago) had an excellent day at the faceoff X, winning 9-of-14 draws for the Thunder.
Trine continues its spring break road trip when they head west to face Colorado College this Thursday, Mar. 5. First face-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. MST (6 EST).